S-T Talk March 2026

Prior issues of S-T Talk are available on our website. Just visit cwa.org/s-t-talk

2026 PRESIDENTS’ MEETING AND LEGISLATIVE/POLITICAL CONFERENCE:
The 2026 Presidents’ Meeting will begin at 11 am on Monday, June 1, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, located at 400 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001.

The Presidents' Meeting will be followed by our National Legislative/Political Conference, which will be held at the same hotel beginning at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, 2026, and continuing through the afternoon of Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Please plan to stay for the entire Legislative/Political Conference, due to the critical importance of the upcoming elections. If you are visiting elected officials during the L-P conference, kindly schedule appointments after 1:00 pm ET so you are able to participate in the full conference agenda.

QUARTERLY LOCAL S-T TOWNHALL ZOOMS:
Please join us on May 26th, from 3 pm - 4 pm ET for the S-T Townhall Zoom meeting. Please click here to register to attend the Zoom meeting. Mark your calendars for August 25th and November 24th, from 3 pm - 4 pm ET, to ensure that you do not miss any of the S-T Townhalls in 2026.

We are always looking for topics to cover that are of interest to you, so please email stoffice@cwa-union.org and let me know what is of interest to you.

APTIFY SERIES: DID YOU KNOW?
The Grievance Management Module:
The Aptify Grievance Management Module makes handling grievances at CWA easier, smarter, and more organized. Within the grievance module, you can perform the following actions:

• Tailor workflows to match your collective bargaining agreement procedures
• Manage employer and member information in one centralized system
• Create and track grievances quickly and easily
• Upload and store supporting documents in one secure place
• Monitor key deadlines so nothing falls through the cracks

These features help move grievances toward resolution more efficiently while giving everyone a clear view of what’s happening at each step. Click here to sign up for an upcoming training session.

Reach out to aptifysupport@cwa-union.org with any questions.

COPE-COMPLIANCE:
LM Reports Due
Locals with a Fiscal Year Ending date of December 31 (12/31), your LM filing with the Department of Labor is due electronically by March 30, 2026. The LMRDA does not authorize or grant any extension of time for filing these reports for any reason.

DUES:
2026 Charitable Invoices coming to your inbox or mailbox soon!
Your annual quotas for both the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation (EGPAF) and the Eduardo Diaz Union-To-Union International Solidarity Fund have been uploaded into Aptify and can be found on the Open Invoices Report.

You can pay these quotas like you would any other invoices. Please note these are optional, so they do NOT affect local delinquency, and they will NOT be picked up by the AutoPay process. Thank you for your ongoing support of these crucial charities. If you have any questions regarding these invoices, please reach out to duesquestion@cwa-union.org.

Changes to Cash Payer Units Delayed
The convention change programming has delayed the implementation of this initiative. The units have been created and the people classified, but we need Aptify’s help to move the hundreds of members involved. When this has been completed, we can shut down the old cash payer units.

You can still send in your MLO-81 forms to duesquestions@cwa-union.org, but please get the latest version HERE.

We hope this project can be completed later this month or early next month. Processing from November 2025 through current, including any needed adjustments, will occur at that time. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Changes to Per Capita Dues:
Dues Resolution at 80th Convention: Delegates approved a resolution requiring CWA International to collect Per Capita membership dues on an “actual” basis rather than an “anticipated” basis for members who do not pay dues. According to the CWA Constitution, Article VI, Section 2, locals are required to pay Per Capita dues, which are the portion of the member’s dues that is paid to the CWA International. This includes the fifty cents per member to the Defense Fund or the quarter hour to the Members’ Relief fund. All members are required to pay dues. Local membership committees can determine when the Local’s portion of dues are not required for members; however, per capita dues to the CWA International Union are required, with the exception of those on military leave from their employer or where units are on strike.

Under the new Resolution, the CWA International will no longer deduct the Per Capita, Defense Fund, and Members’ Relief Fund monies for any member who has no dues collected. Instead, the remaining amount for those paying dues will be sent to Locals via a settlement check. The CWA International will now invoice Locals at the time of processing for the Per Capita, Defense Fund, or Member’s Relief Fund, for those in the unit not paying dues. Any unpaid invoices will be considered delinquent, according to Article XII, Section 2 (e) of the CWA Constitution, after 30 days from when it is due. Additionally, Article VI, Section 5, states that members in default of paying dues without “good cause” for 60 days from when it is due shall be suspended from membership.

To learn more about how this will affect the locals, please use the links below to listen to our Special Meeting and Townhall Call on the Per Capita dues:

January 27, 2026, Special Townhall Call – Click here

February 24, 2026, S-T Townhall on Per Capita Billing Video – Click here

February 24, 2026, S-T Townhall Per Capita PowerPoint – Click here

FINANCE:
End of the Fiscal Year Deadline - May 21, 2026
Just a reminder that we are fast approaching the end of the fiscal year.

All general fund expenses, excluding SIF and Growth fund charges, that need to be paid during this fiscal budget year must be submitted into Business Central no later than Thursday, May 21, 2026, in order to ensure that they are paid by May 31, 2026. Anything received after May 21, 2026, will be charged to the 2026-2027 budget.

Please feel free to share this information with anyone in your District, Sector, Division or Department who handles expenses and invoices. If you have any questions, please contact the Secretary-Treasurer's office at SToffice@cwa-union.org.

Reimbursement Deadline
Locals please remember that all reimbursements need to be submitted to CWA and processed within 90 days of the event.

MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS:
Stay Informed
Make sure your members are receiving the CWA Newsletter and other communications!

CWA’s weekly newsletter helps keep members informed about everything happening across our union. Encourage your members to visit cwa.org/signup to sign up.

Members can also receive weekly text messages from CWA with information about discounts and other UnionPlus benefits that are available to them by texting PLUS to 49484. Message & data rates may apply. Recurring messages. Visit cwa.org/sms for Terms & Conditions and cwa.org/privacy for Privacy Policy.

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It):
2026 CWA Annual Training Schedule: Level Up Your Skills!
Our 2026 training calendar is now available with packed sessions designed to make your work smoother and your skills sharper! Whether you’re new to Aptify or just need a refresher, we’ve got you covered.

   Aptify & Dues Process | 3 hours
   New to Aptify? This comprehensive session will teach you the ropes and guide you through the dues process with 
   confidence.

   March 13, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   May 15, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   July 10, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   September 18, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   November 6, 2026 - 12 pm ET

   Bottom-Up Dues Process Refresher | 1.5 hours
   For those who already know Aptify—this refresher is designed for users familiar with our bottom-up dues structure.         Get a solid review to keep things running smoothly!

   April 10, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   July 17, 2026 - 12 pm ET 
   October 23, 2026 - 2 pm ET

   New! Grievance Management Module | 2 hours
   Discover our latest addition: the Aptify Grievance Management Module! This new tool will simplify the grievance     
   process, from filing to resolution. With easy, web-based access, you can handle collective bargaining agreements, 
   deadlines, and documents all in one place. Perfect for local, district, and sector users!

   LOCALS (Stewards/Local Rep/Local Officers) - Grievance Management module training sessions

   April 3, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   June 5, 2026 - 12 pm ET 
   August 7, 2026 - 12 pm ET 
   October 16, 2026 - 12 pm ET

   DISTRICT/SECTORS Reps - Grievance Management module training sessions

   April 17, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   June 26, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   August 21, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   October 20, 2026 - 12 pm ET

   Microsoft Excel Tips for Aptify Data | 1.5 hours
   Want to get the most out of your Aptify data? Join us for an Excel crash course! You’ll learn the best tips and tricks 
   for navigating and optimizing your data like a pro.

   May 8, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   August 28, 2026 - 12 pm ET
   November 20, 2026 - 12 pm ET

   To sign up for one of our training sessions, please complete and submit this form. If you have any questions, email 
   us at AptifySupport@cwa-union.org.

   Free downloadable CWA Materials items available in the CWA Learning Lab!
   You now have the opportunity to browse and download select CWA Materials resources for free! This option helps 
   you save on printing and shipping costs while giving you instant access to materials you can easily share with your 
   members.

   To get started, log into Aptify and click CWA Learning Lab in the top navigation menu. Then, click on the CWA 
   Materials Downloadable Items module to view the full list of available resources. You can read more details HERE 
   and reach out to AptifySupport@cwa-union.org with any questions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 
Local Officers Resources and Information:
CWA Union Operating Procedures Manual (UOPM)- This comprehensive manual is a great guide to help Local officers in navigating our Union’s policies and procedures. It includes topics like the organizational structure, Constitution, Local Officer duties and responsibilities, organizing, Local Finances, Federal reporting, Local meetings, membership database, dues processing, Local bylaws, records retention, strike manual, and so much more. Click here to view the UOPM.

For Locals- Another great online resource with reference materials, contract database, convention proceedings, and biennial reports, online communications tools for Locals, forms, materials, databases, stewards training portal, and Local directory. Click here to access information for CWA Locals.

Feeling the Financial Crunch? Don’t Fall Behind.
Union Plus offers a Free Credit Counseling session and program options for members who would like to work with a professional to review and provide solutions to assist in their current or future financial situation. Learn more here.

In Unity,

Ameenah Salaam
Secretary-Treasurer